Why Cameroon opposition is divided over how to handle the after-Biya question

Against a background of increasingly strident rhetoric, Cameroonian politicians and activists have been lining up to establish their credentials as hawks or doves as the government considers its option on the vexed question of an alternation or political transition after Paul Biya, national chairman of the Cameroon People Democratic Movement  (CPDM) and the acting Head of State.

Tradition holds that the president of the Cameroon Republic matters about as much as an anonymous leader of a strong opposition party. Modern commentators and journalists are no less scornful.

With a belligerent Head Of State in power for nearly 30 years most of the attention has been centred on the unknown successor who has let it be known that unless France, Great Britain, China, Russia and the United States toughen its stance against Biya`s decision to nominate his successor;

Next month, Paul Biya will travel to New York for the opening of the United Nations General Assembly.

 According to Cameroon diplomats, Paris, Washington and London offices are working to arrange a meeting between Barack Obama, Francois Hollande and David Cameron in order to seek three commitments, namely a promise that the US, France and the UK will increase the level of their financial support to the country after his departure from the power.

( In the picture Ahidjo shaking hands with Paul Biya...)

From Switzerland,where Biya and his entourage are on holidays break,  Hafis Ruefli,.leader of a political movement calling for a national citizens advice  in Cameroon would like the introduction of a tight deadline for negotiations with leaders of the largest world economic and industrialised countries.and that if these don`t work, some members of the opposition in Cameroon will join forces in a decisive action to force Biya to stand down. Ruefis is not alone in cranking up the pressure.

 John Fru Ndi leader of the Social Democratif Front (SDF), Adamu Ndam Njoya of the (CDU), Lady kah Walla, former SDF member,  Albert Ndzongang of the Dynamic,   and a coalition of small political parties named G7  have already announced that while a decision had not been taken by Biya to publicly declare who could possibly become his successor, the detailed plans to act had already been drawn up and were simply awaiting implementation.

The mutual dislike felt by both sides, government and the strong opposition means that Paul Biya will never sit by and allow the opposition to produce a workable plan that could bring peace and prosperity in Cameroon. However, this time around the talk between the government and the opposition is not confined to the possibility of war. 

The bottom line is that very few Cameroonians mainly outside the country, ( France, Belgium, US, UK,Germany,Chad...etc..)  want to ignite a war which would cause chaos in Cameroon, plunge the Central Africa region into a new economic downturn and cause huge numbers of unnecessary deaths.

 By the same token every Cameroonian wants to live in peace without the threat of uprising or a revolution at the hands of a group of political organisations whose leaders are pronounced undecided and unctuous.

Anger as Biya refuses to reveal secret dossier on risks of an alternation of power...

CPDM Ministers are refusing to make public a secret dossier drawn up to identify the risks to Cameroon after Paul Biya`s presidency.

The decision to block release of the internal risk situation on the 2013 poll means voters will not be able to find out the potential hazards flagged up by Cameroon government civil servants.

The refusal to publish, which the SDF has put down to the CPDM`s secrecy obsession will now be investigated by a coalition of opposition parties represented in the National Assembly and organisations from the civil society in accordance with the Parliament`s regulation.

Risk situations which are compiled by the government bodies to outline the dangers of policies, shot up the political agenda last year during the debate over Cameroon Coalition government`s controversial corruption and embezzlement's trial of former members of the government and former Chief Executive Officers of state owned companies  within the so called " Operation Epervier" or the systematic cleaning of likely challengers to the presidency.

Activists and freedom of expression campaigners think that there is a huge considerable public interest in disclosure and therefore the government should release the information. Alex Gustave Ahttp://www.facebook.com/alex.gustave  a human rights activist said " there is nothing the public hates more than hypocrisy".

Although the Government confirmed holding the documents, the request was turned down on the grounds that Ministers required time for seeking individually private advice. The coalition government has no real intention of publishing the risk situations before the 2013 poll is held.

Joseph M. Ndam, leader of the SDF parliamentary group at the National Assembly said that the decision to block release of the risk dossier comes amid fears Paul Biya is taking an unduly conservative attitude towards the freedom of expression and information from the constitution.

An internal review of the decision also backed secrecy with officials noting that the situation was an assessment based on what might hypothetically happen rather than fact. 

The review, conducted by a group of officials in the government`s department of strategic and policy forecast, concluded that it was in the public interest for Ministers to receive advice which includes a comprehensive assessment of all risk.

Poverty gap teaching appeal in Cameroon

Fresh calls have been made to provide more financial incentives to attract the most talented teachers in Cameroon to schools serving deprived or controlled opposition municipalities.

The demand came after it emerged more than 250 municipalities over 350 have come bottom of a new national league table that records the gap between reading and the writing skills of the cleverest pupils from both affluent and deprived areas.

Research by the leading teachers`union based in Yaounde revealed the difference in achievement between all the public schools  in the country. The worst areas are those in the opposition controlled municipalities. It comes after one of the opposition leader and prominent challenger to the acting Cameroon Head of State by the help of some internal reports from the leading teachers national union revealed inspections are failed by almost one in three primary and secondary schools in deprived areas.

Jean Marc Bikoko, one of the most influential civil servant union activist said  he " was sympathetic to the idea of encouraging staff and head teachers with a proven track record to kick-start schools failing to achieve acceptable levels in provinces and not just wanting to stay in the capital close to the administration.." and also suggested " the attainment gap could be closed by getting the best leaders and teachers into the areas where they were needed the most..." before describing the actual regime as the " enemy of the education, growth and prosperity.."

Ruefli Hafi said " providing a financial incentive would be a positive step forward even the latest figures on reading and writing are appalling and after more than 29 years of Biya`s administration and the failure of their national education policy, it is something we should all be concerned about.."

There is a real and urgent need for the country benefit as a whole to " put a lot more funding into early years education to ensure this gap is eradicated because we know intervention does work if it is done early enough....

 Enough public monies have been diverted for unnecessary expenditure and it is time to change direction and vision and think about giving financial incentives to actively recruit the most gifted and effective teachers and leaders. We know our education system at the moment has failed and we have to address this and increase the gap as children get older and public funding has to go into narrowing the gap at an early stage and sustaining that gain through the life of the young person.." he said.

He then concluded by saying that  " policy-makers must turn their attention to reducing inequalities in educational achievement among the brightest children in society, to ensure those from disadvantaged families in controlled opposition municipalities around the country are not left behind.."

London2012: Mpah welcomes Cameroon`s Olympians in Aberdeen

Councillor Willie Young of Aberdeen City Council in Scotland and Patrice Mpah, the acting president of the Cameroon association in Aberdeen have welcomed the first half of the Cameroon Olympic Team in the UK ahead of the Olympic Games.

On Sunday 15 July in Aberdeen, the Cameroon women`s Olympic football team will face Scotland women`s squad at the Aberdeen Sports Village.

 After the Olympic torch fewer it will be an opportunity for football fans to see and appreciate an Olympian team in action.

There are athletes, coaches, managers, physiotherapists and officials. Mr Essama, the head of the Cameroon Olympic team delegation arrived at Aberdeen Airport with a team of around 60 Cameroonians eager to make history at the London Olympic Games.

After their arrival in Scotland, the Cameroon Olympic team members were greeted by the piper and were taken straight to the Aberdeen Sports Village, where the delegation will spend some time before heading down South the Borders for the games. The Aberdeen Sports Village  is the premier sports facility in the North East of Scotland hosting an array of first class sporting facilities. 

This venture is the realisation of a vision first discussed in 2003 by funding partners, the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen City Council and sportscotland.

 The mission is to deliver high quality sport services and it will be a huge opportunity for the athletes to build up their strength, technique and qualities before the games.

 Patrice Mpah a father of two and an oil engineer working at one of the Aberdeen oil company has managed with his friends to welcome the delegation and to show some around the City.

 Athletes have been accommodated at the Linksfield Road. They are happy with the standard of the facility and can also move around to visit the area and talk to people. Cameroon should be grateful to Aberdeen City Council as they have managed to create a join venture with their partners in order to offer a great opportunity to the Olympians and provide them with a tailored  training programmes designed to prepare them for the build up leading to the Olympic campaign.

 The false start of the Olympic campaign in UK is the absence of M. Nkwelle Ekaney, the Cameroon High Commissioner or any official from the London`office at the welcoming reception of the delegation in Aberdeen Airport. 

It will be very interesting to know if at the London`s office something has been put in place in order to welcome the Olympic delegation.

 The official communication around the arrival of the Cameroon Olympic team has failed where citizens`journalism and social media have took over the control of the communication. For more updated infos about the Cameroon`s Olympians, just follow the link here .http://www.okabol.com/

 Patrice Mpah ( in pic wearing a blue shirt  with friends)  who is the acting president of the Cameroon association in Aberdeen has played a huge and important role since the arrival of the Olympic delegation in Aberdeen. People are calling for Patrice Mpah to receive an honour for what he has done since the arrival of the delegation. People in Aberdeen now are showing their deep interest on Cameroon and also on the  Cameroon`s culture. 

Without any public funding the group has put the strong delegation team members at ease by facilitating their stay while officials in London haven`t managed to travel to Aberdeen. 

Soboth: Cameroon economy still run by Biya`s supporters

A new report  from the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation ( IFC) finds that government implemented business reforms in Cameroon has been to slow to pay off and it is not making it easier for local entrepreneurs to start and operate a business throughout the country.

 One of the country leading employers`organisation and lobbying group is trying his best to reverse the situation, but unsuccessful they have been even the authorities are still promising to do what they can and what it is on their power and possibilities in accelerating the political process that will enable businessmen and women to create growth and wealth for the country without any political restriction.

The Groupement Inter-Patronal du Cameroon (Gicam), the leading employers`organisation which hold business and economics reforms with the government under a framework of dialogue between Public and Private sectors has been promised that everything will be done to remove all the blockages  that reduce or refrain people doing business in Cameroon.

 For the moment there is no sign coming from the government that they are willing to do so.

The newly elected president of the leading employers`organisation, Andre Fotso said during the 113th session of the  general assembly meeting  held in Douala on May 30th 2012  that the only way to put pressure on the government is to maintain the continual  dialogue on the economics reforms.

The group has managed with his government consultation and constant dialogues to reduce the average time to start a business in Cameroon. But still a lot more needs to be done by the government.

According to Jean Marc Soboth, senior economics journalist and former reporter from La Nouvelle Expression, " Cameroon`s economy is still mostly under the control of  Biya`s regime supporters who held power under the first dictatorship regime of Ahmadu Ahidjo" and there is a real need for the " government to take more drastic steps to make sure that other employers`organisation can benefit from its wealth". He thinks that the actual administration is not ready yet to change what it has been ongoing for almost three decades now and only a strong and impartial lobbying group can bring the regime to listen and act for the good of struggling dozen of millions people across the country.

President Andre Fotso speaking recently after the event organised by the lobbying group has acknowledged the fact that the challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality posed long-term risk for the country nearly 30 years after Ahmadu Ahidjo, former Head of State handed over the power to Paul Biya.

The ownership of the economy is still primarily in the hands of males dominated who pay allegiance to the corrupted regime as it has always been.

 It is believes that the Gicam has drafted a raft of policy documents that call on the government to do something special and unbelievable towards economic transformation and freedom to help share the national wealth and growth. " A growing population needs a similar growth in employment opportunities and this is a possibility available for the government and we will support it" said Andre Fotso.

Time to strike as Biya regime voice doubts

One sure thing about the anti-Biya regime campaign that`s being launched next week is it won`t be called "enough is enough with Biya regime" or No more Biya campaign.

Just as alternation has apparently become the forbidden word for " Biya is a guarantee for Peace in Cameroon" campaigners, a simple No or enough is enough with the corrupted regime or No more Biya is seen as too negative and even too disastrous for those who don`t want Paul Biya to resign from his position as the Cameroon`s longest serving Head of State to hold the post.

So, apart from an upbeat alternation is and could be possible slogan, what else should people in Cameroon expect when Ruefli Hafis and others launch the " Yes we can make it possible with alternation"?

Setting aside dark mutterings from some opposition comrades who are still uncomfortable about sharing a pro-Alternation platform with coalition politicians, the one plus for the no more with Biya campaigners is that it would be hard for their launch to be as big as a disaster as that of the " Only Biya is the guarantee for Peace in Cameroon" lot.

The RDPC and the opposition have both  used showbiz and sporting supporters for their campaign. Endorsements from showbiz and sporting supporters are all very well. But allowing them actually to speak is way too risky.

 Far away from home and with local connection, hopefully there will be some of those embittered, discontented and abused by the regime, hard-headed businessmen and women who have been around the block a couple of times and know how tough it is for a country like Cameroon to survive in an ever more globally competitive world.

Sure, Cameroon is capable of having an alternation. But at what cost and for what purpose?

What people in Cameroon need to heard next week is why Paul Biya is not the only one who can preserve the peace in Cameroon and also that after him, there will be a huge possibility for the country to move forward both in term of prosperity and national security. 

 An alternative to the present state is the best choice for over 19 million of people with more than 53% living in depth poverty. 

On the economic front, Ruefli Hafis said that the journey to alternation would be " painful and uncertain"...

Hafis C. Ruefli, tells Global investors he has yet to be convinced about "after Biya" in Cameroon

It is the worst thing when people feel their views are not heard by politicians. So it is quite refreshing when they are. Paul Biya in Cameroon had to bow to popular opinion and reverse the way his administration is handling issues that affect the majority of the population.

 In an age of cynicism about politics, when anti-politics flourishes, what it is happening inside Biya political party shows that people power still works.

Times change and public taste is fickle and despot Biya in Cameroon during his nearly three decades in power has dragged once-wealthy Cameroon into the gutter.

 Corruption has precipitated the collapse of the economic policy, leading to devastating poverty in the country. Paul Biya is personally responsible for the downward spiral of the economy and destroyed investment industry in the process.

 Hafis Ruefli, from Muttenz in Switzerland and leader of the HR Globalinvest organisation said, the alternation or the after Biya regime was not a magic bullet for the country and admitted he has yet to be convinced of the wisdom of all those fighting underground and in exile about taking the power after Biya

 Hafis said that his attitude towards the issue had changed since as a young man from the Far North in Cameroon, he has supported his country`s independence.

Hafis said that, after Biya, the newcomers would have to find a way of working with those in place rather than competing against them.

 Asked if the after Paul Biya is workable, Mr Ruefli said " it depends what model you are looking for really, whether it would help the country to be separated from those who have worked with Biya regime, I really don`t know. Personally I still have to be persuaded about that"

 Hafis Ruefli said " the after Biya is not an end in itself but should only be the result of concluding that it is the best way of bringing about real social justice."

This debate said Hafis, needs to be rooted in how best we care for the vulnerable, stand by the poor, nurture our children, protect the environment and welcome the stranger. Hafis is looking forward to the after Biya for a Cameroon working together with the other in a real need to build a fair society and successful Cameroon economy.

Promoting a development oriented micro-finance adapted to the creation of wealth in rural sector is one of the philosophy of the HR Globalinvest, and what Biya regime has failed to deliver since in Cameroon. Hafis has a real intention about Cameroon future.....